Foot-iron for stage-scenery braces.



No. 648,531. J. a. Rossum.

FOOT` IRUN FOR STAGE SCENERY BRA'CES.

(Application led Nov. 27, 1899.)

Patented May I, |900.

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JAMES G. ROSSMAN, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

FOOT-IRON FO R STAGE-SCEN ERY BRACES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,531, dated May 1, 1900.

Application iiled November 27, 1899. Serial No. 738,480. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, JAMES G. RossMAN, of Boston, county of Suffolk, and State of Massa chusetts, have invented an Improvement in Foot-Irons for Stage-Sceneryraces, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanyingdrawings,isaspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to a foot-iron for stagescenery braces, one object of the invention being to so arrange the foot-iron that the thumb-screw which is used for attaching the same to the floor will be always connected with the said foot-iron, a further object of the invention being to arrange the foot-iron so that it may lie fiat upon the floor regardless of the angle to which'the braceris set.

In setting the scenery in theaters the fiat-s, Wings, rbc., as they are called, are provided with detachable braces arranged to be connected with the back of the fiat, as by means of a hook and eye or similar fastening device, the said brace standing at an angle to the fiat and being fastened at its opposite end to the floor. Each brace is provided with what is known as a foot-iron, which as heretofore constructed has consisted in an angle-piece, one branch of which is connected with the brace and the other branch provided with an opening to receive an ordinary wood-screw provided with a thumb-piece and an annular enlargement or shoulder above the screwthread, the said screw being passed through the said opening and screwed into the fioor until the foot-iron isheld by the engagement. of the said shoulder with its upper surface. The screws,being separate from the foot-irons, are continually getting lost, and trouble is frequently experienced'for this reason, especially in view of the fact that the work of setting the scenery has to be done as quickly as possible. A further objection to the footiron as commonly constructed is that the eyes or fastening devices upon the iiats may be at variable distances from the door, while the braces areof different lengths, and it frequently happens that the part of the footirons which is to be fastened to the floor will not lie flat upon the same, so that the screw has to be set at an angle, it being obvious, moreover, that the brace will not be so firmly i supported as would be the case if thel part in cont-act with the floor were to lie fiat and be screwed down into Contact with the floor throughout. In accordance with thepresent invention the lower member of the foot-iron, which is to be secured to the door, is provided with a screw connected .therewith,but arranged to rotate with relation thereto, the said screw forming a permanent part of the foot-i ron,so that it cannot be lost or misplaced.

A further feature of the invention consists iu connecting the two members of the foot iron together by means of a hinge or pivot, so that the angle between the two can be varied within certain limits,it being practicable, therefore,to set the lower member fiat upon the floor every time, even though the angle of the brace is variable.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stagescenery brace provided with a foot-iron embodying the invention, the said brace being shown as in position to support a flat. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the foot-iron and a portion of the brace, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the said foot-iron on a line passing through the screw-opening.

The foot -iron embodying the invention comprises the floor member ct and the brace member b, which usually stand at an angle to each other of about sixty degrees, the brace member being secured in any suitable or usual way to the brace B, which is shown as adapted to be connected by means of hook members B2 with an eye or loop A2,secured to the fiat A. -After a fiat is placed in position the brace b is hooked into the eye A2 and the foot-iron is then secured to the licor by means of the thumb-screw c, the screw portion of which isan ordinary wood-screw arranged to be screwed into the floor at any desired place. In accordance with the present linventionthe said screw c, which is provided witha shoulder or projection c2, is connected with the member a of the foot-iron in such a manner as to freely turn with relation thereto, but to remain in connection therewith, so that it cannot be lost or misplaced. As herein shown, the opening 0,2 for the screw c is provided with an undercut channel a3, arranged to receive the enlargement c2, so' that the screw c cannot be accidentally detached from the member a, but at the same time is free to IOO rotate with relation thereto, so that the said member can be properly secured to the oor. It is desirable toso arrange these parts that the screw c can be removed and replaced, if necessary, and for this Apurpose the part ct is shown as split and provided with the removable part a4, shown as attached to the main part by means of screws a5. The channel for the enlargement c2 is formed partly in the tering a slot a6, the two parts being connected together by means of a pin dand prevented from moving beyond certain limits by means of shoulders or lugs a7 and b3, respectively. It is obvious, however, that the hinge connection above described is not essential to the invention, so far as relates ,to

the means for securing the screw in the footiron, since it may be desirable in some cases to provide foot-irons in which the brace `and floor members are rigidly connected with screws secured to the floor member, as herein described.

It is not intended to limit the invention to the specific construction and arrangement herein shown, since it is obvious that modifications may be made without departing from the invention.

I claiml. The'cornbination with a portable stagescenery brace adapted to be detachably connected at one end with the scenery; of a footiron for attaching the other end of said brace to the stage, said foot-iron havin-g a brace member adapted to be secured to the brace; a floor member connected with said brace member at an angle thereto; and a thumbscrew rotatably secured to the said loor member and adapted to b e screwed into the stage, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a portable stagescenery brace adapted to be detachably connected at one end with the scenery; of a footiron for attaching the other end of said brace yto the stage, said foot-iron having a brace member adapted to be secured to the brace; a floor member connected with said brace member at an angle thereto; a thumb-screw rotatably secured to the said floor member and adapted to be screwed into the stage; and a hinge connection between said brace member and said floor member, substantially as described. v

In testimony whereof vI have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES e. RossMAN.

Witnesses:

HENRY J. LrvERMoRE, NANCYA P. FORD. 

